Job 7

1 Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of a worker?

Is not the life of man upon earth a state of trial? and his existence as that of a hireling by the day?

2 As a servant earnestly desires the shadow, and as a worker looks for the reward of his work:

Or as a servant that fears his master, and one who has grasped a shadow? or as a hireling waiting for his pay?

3 So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.

So have I also endured months of vanity, and nights of pain have been appointed me.

4 When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? and I am full of tossings back and forth unto the dawning of the day.

Whenever I lie down, I say, When [will it be] day? and whenever I rise up, again [I say] when [will it be] evening? and I am full of pains from evening to morning.

5 My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and become loathsome.

And my body is covered with loathsome worms; and I waste away, scraping off clods of dust from my eruption.

6 My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope.

And my life is lighter than a word, and has perished in vain hope.

7 O remember that my life is wind: mine eye shall no more see good.

Remember then that my life is breath, and mine eye shalt not yet again see good.

8 The eye of him that has seen me shall see me no more: your eyes are upon me, and I am not.

The eye of him that sees me shall not see me [again]: thine eyes are upon me, and I am no more.

9 As the cloud is consumed and vanishes away: so he that goes down to the grave shall come up no more. (Sheol h7585)

[I am] as a cloud that is cleared away from the sky: for if a man go down to the grave, he shall not come up again: (Sheol h7585)

10 He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more.

and he shall surely not return to his own house, neither shall his place know him any more.

11 Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

Then neither will I refrain my mouth: I will speak being in distress; being in anguish I will disclose the bitterness of my soul.

12 Am I a sea, or a whale, that you set a watch over me?

Am I a sea, or a serpent, that thou hast set a watch over me?

13 When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaints;

I said that my bed should comfort me, and I would privately counsel with myself on my couch.

14 Then you scare me with dreams, and terrify me through visions:

Thou scarest me with dreams, and dost terrify me with visions.

15 So that my soul chooses strangling, and death rather than my life.

Thou wilt separate life from my spirit; and yet [keep] my bones from death.

16 I loathe it; I would not live always: let me alone; for my days are vanity.

For I shall not live for ever, that I should patiently endure: depart from me, for my life [is] vain.

17 What is man, that you should magnify him? and that you should set your heart upon him?

For what is man, that thou hast magnified him? or that thou givest heed to him?

18 And that you should visit him every morning, and try him every moment?

Wilt thou visit him till the morning, and judge him till [the time of] rest?

19 How long will you not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle?

How long dost thou not let me alone, nor let me go, until I shall swallow down my spittle?

20 I have sinned; what shall I do unto you, O you preserver of men? why have you set me as a mark against you, so that I am a burden to myself?

If I have sinned, what shall I be able to do, O thou that understandest the mind of men? why hast thou made me as thine accuser, and [why] am I a burden to thee?

21 And why do you not pardon my transgression, and take away my iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and you shall seek me in the morning, but I shall not be.

Why hast thou not forgotten my iniquity, and purged my sin? but now I shall depart to the earth; and in the morning I am no more.